Jury finds Bargo shot, killed 15-year-old Seath Jackson

CHILDREN FORCED TO WALK ACROSS DANGEROUS ROADS, JUST TO GET TO SCHOOL. WE START WITH THAT MURDER CONVICTION IN MARION COUNTY. A 21-YEAR-OLD. GOOD EVENING. I'M ERIK von ANCKEN IN FOR GAARD TONIGHT. I'M LAUREN ROWE. IT TOOK THE JURY THREE HOURS TO AGREE THAT MICHAEL BARGO MURDERED SEATH JACKSON. INVESTIGATORS SAY HE SHOT JACKSON, BURNED HIS BODY IN A BACKYARD PIT AND DUMPED THE REMAINS IN PAINT CANS. FOUR OTHERS WHO HELPED HIM ARE SERVING LIFE SENTENCES, BUT BARGO COULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH. LOUIS BOLDEN IS HERE WITH MORE. HIS ATTORNEY MADE ONE LAST EFFORT TO TAKE THE DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE. WAS HE SUCCESSFUL? NO. HE DIDN'T SAY THAT MICHAEL BARGO WAS INNOCENT. HE SAID THE JURY SHOULD FIND HIM GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER BUT THE JURY DIDN'T SEE IT THAT WAY. GUILTY OF MURDER OF FIRST DEGREE WITH A FIREARM. 21-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL BARGO SHOWED NO EMOTION AS THE JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. HE FACES THE DEATH PENALTY. AND HIS FATHER HAD FEW WORDS. IT MUST BE DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO HEAR? OF COURSE IT IS. AT THIS POINT, WHAT IS YOUR HOPE? I HAVE NO COMMENTS. PROSECUTORS TOLD THE JURY BARGO HAD AN ONGOING FEUD WITH 15-YEAR-OLD SEATH JACKSON THAT STARTED OVER A GIRL. MICHAEL BARGO WANTED SEATH JACKSON TO DIE AND AS HE TOLD HAVEN AFTER HE MURDERED HIM THE DEED IS DONE. THE STATE SAYS THE FEUD ENDED IN APRIL OF 2011 WITH BARGO LURING JACKSON TO A MARION COUNTY HOME WITH FIVE OTHERS. THE STATE SAYS THEY BEAT HIM FIRST AND BARGO SHOT HIM MULTIPLE TIMES. THE GROUP PUT HIS BODY IN A SLEEPING BAG AND BURNED IT IN A FIRE PIT AND THEN PUT HIS REMAINS IN PAINT CANS AND DUMPED IT IN A ROCK PIT. BARGO'S ATTORNEY HAS TO CONVINCE THE JURY NOT TO TAKE HIS LIFE. IT'S A TERRIBLE TRAGIC CASE ALL THE WAY AROUND. ONE PERSON LOST THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF IT AND ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE IN PRISON. THERE'S NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS CASE AT ALL. THE PENALTY PHASE OF THIS TRIAL STARTS ON FRIDAY AT 9 A.M. BOTH SIDES WILL PRESENT ARGUMENTS TO THE JURY ABOUT WHY MICHAEL BARGO SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THE DEATH PENALTY. HOW LONG DO WE THINK THAT WILL TAKE? IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS. IT'S LIKE A MINI TRIAL.

OCALA, Fla. -

Michael Bargo has been found guilty by a jury on Tuesday of murdering and dismembering a teenager in Marion County.

Just before 11 a.m., jurors began deliberating the fate of Bargo, 21, one of five people accused in the April 2011 shooting death of 15-year-old Seath Jackson.

The penalty phase is expected to begin on Friday and will last at least three days, according to Marion County court officials. Bargo faces the death penalty.

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Bargo showed no emotion as the jury read its verdict. Bargo's father said it was difficult to hear the verdict but said he has "no comments."

Before reading the verdict, the judge said the jury had asked if they should be concerned for their safety about the verdict. The judge said they shouldn't be concerned for their safety.

Prosecutors say Jackson was lured to a Summerfield home and beaten before being shot and killed. His body was then burned and the ashes were placed into paint cans and dumped in a pit, officials said.

Bargo took the stand Monday in a surprise move, saying he did not have anything to do with Jackson's death.

Bargo said that he was not there when Jackson was killed, instead saying he arrived at the house where the four other suspects were crying and cleaning up blood. He also said they had started a fire and were burning the teenager's body.

"I went out there and I see this fire. I was kind of dumbfounded, there (are) trees all around and this fire is like 20 feet tall," Bargo said Monday from the stand, adding that he was afraid for his life and didn't tell anyone he knew his friends had killed Jackson.

Two state witnesses testified that Bargo confessed to taking part in the Jackson's death.

Four others were convicted in the case and sentenced to life in prison.

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